Process and machine for the transformation of combustible pollutants of waste materials into clean energy and usable products

Abstract

PCT No. PCT/EP88/00478 Sec. 371 Date Jan. 18, 1990 Sec. 102(e) Date Jan. 18, 1990 PCT Filed May 27, 1988 PCT Pub. No. WO88/09363 PCT Pub. Date Dec. 1, 1988.The process and apparatus for transforming combustible pollutants and waste materials into non-polluting, clean and useful energy, by completely removing the pollutants from raw materials while avoiding the formation of potential pollutants, involve the use of oxygen or a gas mixture containing oxygen, such as air, and steam.

I claim: 
     
       1. A process for transforming combustible pollutants and waste materials into clean energy and useful products, comprising the steps of: introducing pollutant and waste material to a thermic lance at a temperature higher than 1600° C. in an airless atmosphere for a time sufficient to totally decompose the material and extract combustible gaseous products based on H 2  and CO, non-combustible gaseous products and inert products, which are forwarded to the subsequent steps,   cooling all together the thermally decomposed products and separating the inert products with water, thus generating steam and reducing the gases temperature at not less than 1200° C.,   introducing said steam and said cooled gaseous products onto a depurative carbonaceous mass heated at a temperature higher than 1200° C., to remove the residual pollutants from the gaseous products and to transform the gaseous products, at least in part, into hydrogen, carbon monoxide and other wholly useful gaseous products, and   cooling the gaseous products coming out from the depurative carbonaceous mass.   
     
     
       2. A process as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of applying the heat coming from the various cooling phases to pre-heat the material so as to bring said material to the predetermined content of humidity. 
     
     
       3. A process as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of compressing the material before introducing said material to said thermic lance. 
     
     
       4. A process as claimed in claim 3 wherein the step of compressing the material includes forcing said material through an entry aperture into a decomposition chamber. 
     
     
       5. A process as claimed in claim 4 wherein during the thermic decomposition of the material a bottom of the decomposition chamber is protected by previously decomposed material. 
     
     
       6. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein thermic decomposition of the material is carried out by an oxyhydrogen flame of the thermic lance. 
     
     
       7. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the water used in the cooling process is superficially contacted by the thermally decomposed products to be cooled. 
     
     
       8. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein all the inert products are collected at a single zone. 
     
     
       9. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein heat from the thermic lance is recovered to transform gaseous products from the thermic decomposition and separation phase of the inert products into combustible gaseous products. 
     
     
       10. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the combustible gaseous products are stabilized and purified by passing said combustible gaseous products through at least one water film. 
     
     
       11. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein carbon monoxide is converted with steam into hydrogen and carbon dioxide in the presence of catalysts. 
     
     
       12. A process as claimed in claim 11 wherein Fe 2  O 3  --Cr 2  O 3  is used as a catalyst. 
     
     
       13. A process as claimed in claim 11 Cu--ZnO--Al 2  O 3  is used as a catalyst. 
     
     
       14. A process as claimed in claim 11 wherein the carbon dioxide is frozen to obtain dry ice. 
     
     
       15. A process as claimed in claim 11 wherein the hydrogen is introduced to a purifying phase. 
     
     
       16. A process as claimed in claim 11 wherein the hydrogen is used to power a fuel cell. 
     
     
       17. An apparatus for transforming combustible pollutants and waste material into clean energy and useful products comprising: a) a thermic lance disgregator operating in the absence of air and at a temperature higher than 1600° C. for thermally decomposing pollutants and waste material from a source to form combustible gaseous products based on H 2  and CO, non-combustible gaseous products and inert products,   b) a water separator to cool all the decomposed products and to separate the inert products with water, thus generating steam and reducing the gases temperature at not less than 1200° C.,   c) a filter-thermoreactor containing a depurative carbonaceous mass heated at a temperature higher than 1200° C., said filter-thermoreactor being connected to said disgregator and to said separator to remove residual pollutants from the gaseous products and to transform the gaseous products, at least in part, into hydrogen, carbon monoxide and other wholly utilizable gaseous products, and   d) a refrigerator for cooling said gaseous products coming out from said filter-thermoreactor.   
     
     
       18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein said disgregator includes a covering of heatproof material, a lance having an oxyhydrogen flame surrounded by said heatproof material and a pusher to urge the material between said covering and said lance into the direction of said flame. 
     
     
       19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein the part of the disgregator around the oxyhydrogen flame has a vault shape with means defining an opening for the passage of said lance and the pusher. 
     
     
       20. An apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein the disgregator around the oxyhydrogen flame has a bottom made of heatproof material with a conical shape for gathering decomposed material, the bottom having means defining a central opening for the passage of said decomposed material. 
     
     
       21. An apparatus as claimed in claim 20 wherein the conical bottom of the disgregator and/or a bottom of the separator are provided with heat regulating means. 
     
     
       22. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein said separator includes a tank underlying said disgregator. 
     
     
       23. An apparatus as claimed in claim 22 wherein said separator is provided with means to extract inert products. 
     
     
       24. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein said filter-thermoreactor includes a container of carbonaceous mass connected to said disgregator and said separator. 
     
     
       25. An apparatus as claimed in claim 24 wherein said filter-thermoreactor is concentrically disposed outside said disgregator such that both are connected to the underlying separator. 
     
     
       26. An apparatus as claimed in claim 25 wherein an inlet pipe for introducing said carbonaceous mass in said filter-thermoreactor emerges in the area of the disgregator influenced by the heat of the thermic lance. 
     
     
       27. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein each of an inlet of said disgregator, entry into said filter-thermoreactor and an outlet of said separator includes a seal valve. 
     
     
       28. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein said refrigerator includes two fluid film concentric cylinders. 
     
     
       29. An apparatus as claimed in claim 28 wherein said two cylinders of the refrigerator are placed coaxially outside the filter-thermoreactor.